Conference

The Rhetoric of Other: Using Genre to Discuss Race and Ethnicity in the Classroom

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Abstract

How can teachers engage students in compassionate and thoughtful classroom dialogues on race and ethnicity? In the classroom, the use of the fantasy, science-fiction, and horror genres (from a wide range of media: literature, film, music, video games, scholarship, and criticism) allows the ability to question and explore racial inequality, as well as how societies perceive of and treat these issues, in a way that students can feel comfortable discussing with their peers and teachers. From the discussion of Monster Theory, with its focus on how societal inequalities spawn horror texts, to the inclusion of the Diversity in Science Fiction and Fantasy movement, a wider and more thoughtful dialogue can be broached with students. We’ll be discussing how instructors can implement these “genre” ideas into their courses and how students can find deeper ways to engage with the larger topics at hand.